About the Author
Welcome, my name is Maxwell Scott Bliss, a fourth year student in the ive year accredited Bachelor
of Architecture program at Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University). My
passion for architecture started after taking a drafting course my freshman year in high school. The
highlight of my studies occured this fall when I studied abroad in Rome. I furthered my education
while being immersed in a new culture and a new city where some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest and most
beautiful architecture resides. Studying abroad, I gained new perspectives on how modern architecture effects existing cultures and how our buildings will beneit these communities in new ways.
Today, I ind myself falling even more in love with architecture as I discover the many ways our profession impacts the lives of not only our generation but generations to come.

Notched Spaces was the design created for the second row home project during my second year, fall semester,
design studio course. Located at the corner of Bodine and George Streets in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties, this
home is perfect for a young couple looking to live in the city. Using the verbs notch, carve, and extrude; this design
incorporates all of those aspects into one home. The notched spaces created are outdoor patios for its residents that
allow for a balcony on the street side of the home. This is an unusual placement for a balcony in a Philadelphia row
home as most row homes have a lat front to maintain the street’s edge and provide a defensible space. The home’s
design provides an outdoor space on the second and third loor, allowing a small row home to maximize outdoor
space within a dense city.

Tasked to model an existing 250 square foot cabin, the Sunset Cabin by Taylor Smyth Architects made a great choice.
After modeling the cabin in Rhino3D, the model was taken into 3DS Max for rendering where all of the materials were
added to the cabin. The cabin was then rendered for an interior and exterior perspective. After rendering in 3DS the
images were taken to Photoshop for post processing. The images were then composed onto a 30â&#x20AC;? x 20â&#x20AC;? board to be
submitted and judged. On the board there was to be two perspectives, interior and exterior, loor plans, a section, an
elevation, a diagram, site map, site plan, and description about the cabin. This cabin is located in northern Pennsylvania
on state game land. With room for two, this cabin makes a perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of Philadelphia.
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Cultivation - Philadelphia, PA
Fall 2016

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Building Mass

Central Atrium
for Garden Space

Shifted Atrium for
Greater Sun Exposure

Green Roof and First
Ground Level Plaza
added

Inserted Program and
Floor Plates

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Lower Level Floor Plan

Ground Floor Plan

In the fall semester of my third year, tasked to design an Education Center, I designed a Culinary Center to be located at the
corner of 20th and Arch Streets in Center City Philadelphia.
Due to the loss of funding in Philadelphia Public Schools for
extracurricular programs, this Culinary Center provides Philadelphia’s youth with a place to come and learn about the culinary arts which are not taught in public schools. Being the irst
of it’s kind in Philadelphia, the Culinary Center not only teaches it’s students how to cook but also the agricultural process
to grow their own food for use in the kitchens. With a central
atrium through the building the students are able to have garden space on each level allowing for a large variety of crops.
The atrium shifts across the building allowing for greater sun
exposure as the building rises while also providing clean air
throughout the building from the gardens. In creating a place
for children to learn, this Culinary Center features multiple
teaching kitchens equipped for 15 to 20 students each, as well
as pastry labs, and ive student operated restaurants.

Fourth Floor Plan

Tenth Floor Plan

Section

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Connected Learning - Hudson Yards, New York, NY
Spring 2017

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Unlike a traditional library, the Hudson Yards Education Center (HYEC) promotes collaboration and uniied
learning, by providing working spaces tailored to an individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s learning style. With large open spaces for
collaboration, the HYEC takes a new approach towards a library by limiting the private space to encourage
learning through oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peers. The buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design is comprised of seven nodes connected under an overarching canopy. Each node represents one of the seven learning strategies; visual, verbal, physical, aural,
logical, social, and experiential learning. Within each of these nodes the spaces are designed to enhance that
speciic learning style, allowing the public to choose the learning style that works best for them.

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Light3 - Urban Equinox Competition - Third Place
Fall 2016

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During my third year I participated in the Philadelphia University and Aalto University Group X, Urban Equinox Light
and Space Design Charrette for third year architecture students. Tasked to design a 25â&#x20AC;&#x2122; x 140â&#x20AC;&#x2122; site located at 20th
and Arch Streets in Center City Philadelphia, using lighting as the focus, I designed a new gathering space and cocktail bar for the city. Sitting atop a large relecting pool, three glass cubes form light-wells of varying opacities and
size to be illuminated allowing light to relect off of the water creating soothing shadows on the glass panels. With
relecting pools at the bottom of each light-well, the same effect occurs on the lower level of the building allowing
for a relaxing and welcoming environment for the public. During the day the soothing noise of rippling waters allows
this space to become a calming environment where workers can enjoy their lunch breaks and step away from their
jobs in a stress reducing space.
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After identifying a lack of green space and social interaction within the
Ludovisi Area, it was necessary for a design to be built combining these
missing elements. In a neighborhood that was once home to the most
beautiful and expansive gardens at Palazzo Ludovisi, it was clear that
there needed to be a connection bringing the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s green history back.
To create a new Social Piazza, a green space was constructed over the
Corso Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Italia Highway. This allows for a gathering space which links the
Ludovisi Neighborhood with Villa Borghese. Housing a new transportation hub as well as interior spaces for public and private use, the Social Piazza creates a new meeting point within the neighborhood while
seamlessly connecting this neighborhood with the rest of Rome.